Wolves in Saxony may be hunted in the future

Saxony is making it easier to hunt wolves. This evening, the state legislature passed a law transferring population management to hunting authorities and adjusting wolf protection measures. With this, the Free State is implementing federal regulations. In April, the laws amending the Federal Hunting Act and the Federal Nature Conservation Act went into effect. From now on, a wolf may be hunted if it can be proven that it injured or killed a livestock animal and overcame herd protection measures in the process. 

Minister Says State Is Finally Able to Take Action

“It has been and remains my stated goal that we finally become capable of taking action on the issue of wolves,” explained Environment and Agriculture Minister Georg-Ludwig von Breitenbuch (CDU) in the state parliament. This decision sends a signal to livestock owners that their concerns are being taken very seriously.

Saxony currently has 46 wolf territories—packs, pairs, and solitary wolves

According to official data, a total of 46 wolf territories were identified during the 2024/2025 monitoring in Saxony. There are 35 wolf packs, ten wolf pairs, and one territorial lone wolf. Most of the territories are located in Upper Lusatia, where 27 packs, five pairs, and one female wolf live. 

116 damage incidents reported by mid-year

As of the end of July this year, livestock owners had reported 116 damage incidents. In 73 cases, the wolf is considered with reasonable certainty to be the cause. 200 livestock were killed. Sheep are the most commonly affected, but goats and cattle also fall victim. Farmers receive compensation for damages upon providing proof.

Criticism of the legislative change

Relaxing the wolf’s protected status is also controversial in Saxony. Green Party politician Franziska Schubert accused the government of trying to force the issue in order to allow the wolf to be hunted. She said Saxony is even going beyond federal regulations in this regard. The draft bill says nothing about the qualifications of hunters, about tracking, or about suitable hunting dogs. “It also says nothing about culling limits, nothing about the involvement of associations or livestock farming, nothing about scientific evaluation, and nothing about reporting requirements.”